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It's the morning of a new day. Three days have passed since the attack, and calm has returned to Daybreak, to a degree. People are getting their affairs in order, and an industrious few have even started to rebuild the broken homes. The attack was swift, and vicious, but the orcs were not particularly destructive or bloodthirsty – people died, but they're almost all those who took up arms, and the number of dead orcs outnumber them still. Homes got raided and farms were trampled, but there was comparatively little fire. Most homes were preserved to a degree. But the fact remains that they attacked – without reason or provocation – and the people demand justice. Ezra has summoned you to the forest path leading north, just outside of town. It won't take you far – there's no road into the mountains proper – but for now it'll be easy travels, at least. The young elf looks reserved, but there's a lingering sadness in her blue eyes, a reflection of the tragedy still so fresh in everybody's minds. “Thank you for answering the call, all of you,” she says, inclining her head, “I know that some of you have a less personal stake in this than others, but no matter the reasons, the work you are doing will bring peace back to Daybreak; of that, I have no doubt.” She takes a step closer for a moment, approaching each of you in turn. “To you, Girl of the Woods, I bring the gratitude of Daybreak. Your neutrality will be valuable in negotiations, and your knowledge of the forest and martial prowess will keep the others safe and on the path. “ A gentle touch to Keelie's shoulder, and Ezra moves on. “To you, master Arderne, I come with hope. There are few among us who match your wisdom and breadth of expertise among the Studies, and that knowledge will come in handy when it comes to dealing with the orcs, and pressing them for answers.” Bowing briefly to the wizard, she steps to the side, facing the solemn draconian. “To you, Palivir, I come with shared grief. The disappearance of your daughter symbolizes all our loss, and your determination to get her back will see this mission through to the end.” She pauses, briefly, a moment of silence for a loss. “Rest assured that your remaining family will be in good hands while you are gone, and we will not stop our search parties – just in case Jaela has not been taken by the orcs, or managed to escape.” Kneeling a little to level her gaze with Rickman's, the sorceress takes his hand. “To you, Stalt, I come with happiness. That such courage and keen perception would come under such an innocent guise was a veritable miracle. Your actions saved many lives, and I hope that this mission will do the same.” Ezra smiles with gentle warmth as she says this, lingering like that for a short moment, before rising again. “And to you, Miren, spirit-child, I come with a warning. I know that the spirits are with you, and that they have given you warnings we chose not to heed. It was foolish, in hind-sight. But hind-sight is always clearest, and I therefore warn you in turn, now; you know that the spirits are as fickle as the changing wind. Take care not to listen to them too closely.” With those final words, she steps back.  As Ezra brings her hands together, there's a sudden blast of cold wind that blows back your hair and clothes. A bright, white light forms within the space between, and washes over you. As the wind subsides, you feel energized and optimistic, as if the wind lifted your spirits. “This is my final blessing for you. May your steps be swift and sure. And come back safely." With that, she folds her hands in front of herself, waiting patiently as she sees you off. You have a long journey ahead of you. The city of Huaca can be reached in two days if you know the ways, but the mountains are treacherous at best, and murderous if the weather is against you. But the hope of the people rests on your shoulders, now. You can't fail. Welcome to Daybreak! Standard pbp rules apply - regular text for IC, cursive for OOC. Bold your names at the head of each post. Post your own token and combat block in your first post, and add your combat block to each combat post. Use Tokentool to make one, if you don't have it! Campaign name for Orokos rolls will be Daybreak. Wahad fucked around with this message at 14:56 on Mar 22, 2014 |
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Mar 21, 2014 19:50
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And with that, the journey is on. Ezra waves you off as you go, then heads back to the town below. Some ride; some choose to walk. The weather's pleasant enough for both, at any rate, and the forest is peaceful, a stark contrast from the past few days of turmoil and hassle. It gives you time to collect your thoughts, speculate on the journey ahead, and mourn those you've lost, in the relative solitude of eachother's company. Keelie's destination reached soon enough. After about half an hour's travel, she indicates this is where she needs to stop, and heads into the underbrush. It's a little ways off the path, but most of you don't mind the small diversion, and Kaiser is clever enough to watch Khan and the cart for whatever might try to snatch anything. The doe has rested herself in a sheltered spot. Though she accepts Keelie's swift assistance, she eyes the rest of you with nervous fretting noises, but can't move to escape - and from the warden's reassurances, she calms down well enough. The birth is, fortunately, no complex matter, and it is not long before new life is born into the world - a small, slender fawn, standing on shaky legs. Miren notices some of the spirits being particularly quiet and at peace; it seems even they respect the sanctity of new life. Settling the fawn near its mother, Keelie cleans up, then nods to the rest of you. It's time to go.  On the way back, when you've almost reached the path again, Keelie suddenly halts everyone. She hears something off in the distance, a ways into the forest in another direction, but it's faint. As everyone goes quiet, and listens, you can't quite make it out, but it almost sounds like somebody's...crying? Wahad fucked around with this message at 19:11 on Mar 24, 2014 |
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Mar 24, 2014 18:41
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Having had time to think and study the effects underway, Oliver finally figures out the workings of Ezra's blessing.pre:Ezra's Frostwind Step Boon Duration: Seven days Property: You can walk on water at half-speed. If you get pulled, pushed, or slid, you can also shift 1 square in the same direction as your last moved square, if there are no obstacles.  Sat upon a low branch is - what you think, at first - a large growth. But the growth moves, and the crying is clearly emanating from it. Oliver concludes that the creature must be a dryad, a tree-nymph. Another moving growth of wood emerges from the tree she's sat on, this one more slender and purposeful. "Hush, now, sister. We'll find the one responsible. It'll be alright, I promise," she says, touching the crying fey gently on the leg. Miren tries to creep closer, to get a better angle on the pair, but snaps a loose twig underfoot. Immediately, the slender dryad swivels around, green eyes glaring in your direction. "Despoilers!" she cries, loud enough for the others to hear, as the fingers on her hands start growing to long, menacing claws, "If you've come to finish the job, you'll find us not so easy to catch off-guard! Face me, cowards!" Wahad fucked around with this message at 20:21 on Mar 24, 2014 |
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Mar 24, 2014 19:22
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The dryad starts forward on Palivir, murder in her eyes, but Keelie's soft words stop her. Behind her, the crying dryad looks up, as well. "Oh, Keelie! It's horrible! They scarred my - " but as Stalt comes crashing through the underbrush and blunders into the conversation, the slender fey shrieks. "Wood-thing?!" she roars, staring in disbelief at the path of snapped twig and crushed leaves the halfing left in his wake, "I have had enough of this disrespect! You will all pay!" She lets out a horrible, inhuman cry, and from nearby bushes, two giant centipedes come crawling out. High above, you can hear another cry, as if from a bird, respond to the dryad's. The crying dryad gathers herself, sniffling lightly. "I'm sorry, Keelie. I'll try to make it painless." You've got a fight on your hands!  pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Miren 23 M9 61/61 21 21 22 20 Palivir 22 N15 53/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 21 N12 50/50 24 18 22 17 Dryad Witch 20 E14 84/84 22 18 20 22 Stalt 18 L8 53/53 25 20 18 19 Dryad Hunter 18 I14 82/82 21 20 20 18 Centipedes 17 H9 60/60 19 15 17 18 17 G18 60/60 19 15 17 18 Keelie 16 L15 71/71 23 21 19 21 Trees provide cover and block line of sight. Dark green squares are bushes - they are difficult terrain and provide concealment.
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Mar 25, 2014 11:05
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The slender dryad glowers at Oliver. "You bring a creature of the Chaos here? You fool! You'll kill us all!" Although she seems like she's about to rant more at you, her companion stops her. "Peace, sister. They are a lost cause." Gone are her tears, now, the wooden face set in - well, wood, though her voice is soft and tranquil. "Can't you see? They are marked already by the Chaos. We can only give them a quick death, and hope it is not too late." With that, she melts back into the wood - only to reappear near Oliver, stepping from tree like it was but a curtain. "Sleep, mortals. It will not have to be painful." Spreading her hands, Oliver can see pure white flowers appearing on the arms of the creature. She blows softly, and a sweet scent drifts over to Stalt and Oliver. Though Kaiser escapes the dryad's attack thanks to being so tiny, Stalt and Oliver are caught full in the face, and begin to feel drowsy. Dryad Witch teleports to M13. Dryad Witch uses a close blast attack against Stalt, Kaiser and Oliver. Stalt and Oliver are dazed (save ends). Stalt uses second chance. The Dryad misses! Monster Knowledge Check: Dryads can pass through trees and plants with supernatural speed, disappearing into one and reappearing from another in the blink of an eye. Moreover, their magical affinity for plants allows them to play with mortal minds with ease, before rending them asunder with wooden claws. They're quickly offended and are not easy to see reason once they have been slighted. Each dryad, though attuned to all plantlife, has a heartwood tree, its home and hearth. Assaulting a heartwood tree is the easiest way to kill a dryad if you do it properly, but also the easiest way to incur the wrath of others.[/i]  pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Miren 23 M9 61/61 21 21 22 20 Palivir 22 L16 53/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 21 N12 50/50 24 18 22 17 Kaiser M11 01/01 24 18 22 17 Magma Beast J13 25/25 25 19 23 18 Dryad Witch 20 M13 84/84 22 18 20 22 24 Stalt 18 L8 53/53 25 20 18 19 Dryad Hunter 18 I14 48/82 21 20 20 18 20 Centipedes 17 H9 39/60 19 15 17 18 21 17 G18 60/60 19 15 17 18 21 Keelie 16 L15 71/71 23 21 19 21 Conditions: Miren: +2 defenses against Centipede Palivir: Stealthed Oliver: +4 def and +5 damage vs Hunter, Slowed UEOHNY, Dazed (save ends) Dryad Hunter: Slowed (Save ends), grants CA Centipede: Can't move closer to Miren, grants CA Stalt is up! Trees block line of sight and provide cover. Bushes are difficult terrain and provide concealment. Wahad fucked around with this message at 11:08 on Mar 26, 2014 |
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Mar 25, 2014 20:45
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"Outmatched?" says the dryad quietly, as she rakes wooden claws at Stalt - but he's quick enough to dodge. "Little mortal, you don't even realize the Chaos has its mark on you. How could you ever be perceptive enough to judge a situation to be safe?" Her sister, meanwhile, rakes and slashes at the beast next to her, drawing it away from her sister before disappearing into a tree before it can roast her. She reappears behind Oliver, whispering hoarsely with rage. "Your magic can not save you now, wizard. I will see you suffer for such an insult to our land." Miren can see the centipede she cursed skittering forward and launching itself straight at the creature Oliver summoned! With a roar, the magma beast crumbles to a small pile of rocks, smoke rising up to the sky and soon blown away in the breeze. The other centipede moves its head around for a while, as if searching for something - before it lunges around the outside of the tree, spraying a soft pink cloud at the shadows near Keelie. With triumphant clacking of its jaws, the centipede lunges into the shadows and bites into Palivir's shoulder, assaulting the dragonborn's mind with its paralyzing venom. From above, the eagle cries sharply, and the witch smiles at Stalt. "Behold, little mortal." At a gesture, a massive blur of blue crashes through the canopy behind him. The giant eagle screeches, grabbing Keelie in its giant claws before she can react, lifting her up and away before the halfling can react! "Still think you outmatch us now?"  - The Witch attacks Stalt on his turn, but misses! One person other than Stalt can make a basic attack with combat advantage against her. Include it in your next post. - The Dryad Hunter attacks the Magma Beast for 20 damage! It shifts 4 squares to J18, pulling the beast along to I17. It then teleports through the adjacent tree to O12. It fails it save against the slow. - Centipede 1 moves to H15 and attacks the Magma Beast for 9 damage. The magma beast perishes, and Oliver loses a healing surge. Centipede 1 then shifts to G17. - Centipede 2 moves to L17 from around the tree (avoiding OA). It marks Palivir - until the end of the encounter, Palivir grants combat advantage and cannot become hidden from the centipede! It then attacks for 20 damage, and Palivir is dazed and immobilized until the end of the centipede's next turn. - The Giant Eagle marks Keelie as its prey, then swoops in and grabs her! Its claws deal 14 damage, and it drags Keelie away, flying up into the sky. Stalt makes an OA, but misses! It then tries to bite her with its beak, but Keelie blocks it. pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Miren 23 M9 61/61 21 21 22 20 Palivir 22 L16 33/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 21 N12 50/50 24 18 22 17 Kaiser M11 01/01 24 18 22 17 Dryad Witch 20 M13 73/84 22 18 20 22 24 Stalt 18 L14 53/53 25 20 18 19 Dryad Hunter 18 O12 48/82 21 20 20 18 20 Giant Eagle 17 H13 144/144 22 20 18 16 21 Centipedes 17 G17 39/60 19 15 17 18 21 17 L18 60/60 19 15 17 18 21 Keelie 16 I14 57/71 23 21 19 21 Conditions: Miren: +2 defenses against Centipede 1 Palivir: Stealthed from everyone but centipede 2, grants CA to it Oliver: +4 def and +5 damage vs Hunter, slowed Dryad Hunter: Immobilized (Save ends) Centipede 1: Can't move closer to Miren, grants CA Eagle; 15 feet up. Keelie: Eagle's Prey, Grabbed by Eagle, 15 feet up Keelie, Miren, Palivir and Oliver are up! Trees block line of sight and provide cover. Bushes are difficult terrain and provide concealment. Wahad fucked around with this message at 14:24 on Mar 26, 2014 |
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Mar 26, 2014 13:43
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"Peace, sister," says the dryad as the one spurred on by Oliver's magic moves to attack her. The manipulated dryad blinks and stops her attack halfway before her sister is carried up by more magic. "You don't even know, do you?" says the dryad calmly as she gracefully descends from the small vortex that held her up. "Poor mortals. There has been a storm brewing since a long time, and it is finally coming to a head. You speak truly in that the Chaos is the foundation of our creation, of course - but there are bigger things at stake here, wizard." With that, she falls into the tree again and steps out of another. A small flowerpetal carries itself on the breeze from her hand, and when it touches the scales of Palivir, the addled dragonborn finds himself compelled to attack his companion!  The Hunter's basic attack against the Witch misses! The Witch teleports to G20, and makes Palivir slide to K16 and attack Miren for 13 damage! pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Miren 23 J15 53/61 21 21 22 20 Palivir 22 K16 33/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 21 O10 50/50 24 18 22 17 Dryad Witch 20 G20 54/84 22 18 20 22 24 Stalt 18 L14 53/53 25 20 18 19 Dryad Hunter 18 L12 48/82 21 20 20 18 20 Giant Eagle 17 H13 127/144 22 20 18 16 21 Centipede 17 H16 06/60 19 15 17 18 21 Keelie 16 I15 56/71 23 21 19 21 Conditions: Miren: +2 defenses against Centipede, Eagle Palivir: Dazed/Immobilized UEONT. Dryad Hunter: Immobilized (Save ends), dazed UEONT. Centipede: Cursed, marked by Keelie. Slowed, grants CA UEONT. Bloodied. Eagle; Can't stand up (save ends), prone, cursed, marked by Keelie. Keelie: Eagle's Prey, Grabbed by Eagle Stalt is up! Trees block line of sight and provide cover. Bushes are difficult terrain and provide concealment.
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Mar 27, 2014 15:15
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The slender dryad turns back to Oliver. "You will pay for your presumption, wizard." Her wooden face distorts into a malicious snarl, as she vanishes into the bush. As Stalt moves by and challenges the giant eagle, the centipede attacks him from behind with a vicious bite - but before it can withdraw, Keelie has already smashed its head in. While Palivir recovers from the venom of the other dead centipede, the giant eagle flails about under the weight of Miren's curse; as it tries to attack the cause of its burden, it only gets a cut from Keelie as a reward. - The Centipede attacks Stalt on the OA for 21 psychic damage! Keelie retaliates with Warden's Fury and kills it! - The Giant Eagle attacks through Provoke Overextension, but misses! Keelie retaliates with a MBA for 15 damage. - Palivir, through Inspiring Word, uses a surge for a total recovery of 19 HP. - The Hunter teleports to D10. - The Giant Eagle marks Miren and attacks, but misses! It attacks again and misses again.  pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Miren 23 J15 53/61 21 21 22 20 Palivir 22 K16 52/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 21 O10 50/50 24 18 22 17 Dryad Witch 20 G20 54/84 22 18 20 22 24 Stalt 18 H15 32/53 25 20 18 19 Dryad Hunter 18 D10 48/82 21 20 20 18 20 Giant Eagle 17 H13 112/144 22 20 18 16 21 Keelie 16 I15 56/71 23 21 19 21 Conditions: Miren: +2 defenses against Eagle, Eagle's Prey Dryad Hunter: Immobilized (Save ends), dazed UEONT. Eagle; Can't stand up (save ends), prone, cursed, marked by Keelie. Keelie: Grabbed by Eagle Keelie, Miren, Palivir and Oliver are up! Trees block line of sight and provide cover. Bushes are difficult terrain and provide concealment. Wahad fucked around with this message at 17:56 on Mar 27, 2014 |
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Mar 27, 2014 17:53
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- The Giant Eagle attacks with an OA as Miren moves. It crits! Stalt intervenes with Shielding Retaliation. He takes 19 damage and is knocked prone, but misses the counterattack! Keelie attacks with Warden's Fury, but misses too.pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Miren 23 G12 53/61 21 21 22 20 Palivir 22 K16 52/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 21 O10 50/50 24 18 22 17 Dryad Witch 20 G20 54/84 22 18 20 22 24 Stalt 18 H15 11/53 25 20 18 19 Dryad Hunter 18 D10 48/82 21 20 20 18 20 Giant Eagle 17 H13 96/144 22 20 18 16 21 Keelie 16 I15 56/71 23 21 19 21 Conditions: Miren: +2 defenses against Eagle, Eagle's Prey Dryad Hunter: Immobilized (Save ends), dazed UEONT. Eagle; Can't stand up (save ends), prone, cursed, marked by Keelie. Stalt: Bloodied, prone. Keelie: Grabbed by Eagle
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Mar 27, 2014 19:15
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"You're hurt, little mortal." From beside Stalt, the soft, clear voice of the dryad suddenly comes to his ears. "And tired, too. Struggling against the pain is hard, isn't it? Just relax, now. Let me put you out of your misery." Once again, a cloud of pollen overcomes Stalt, but he's prepared for it this time and it's Keelie who takes the brunt of the attack, feeling sluggish and drowsy. - Stalt recovers 8 HP, putting him up to 19! - The Witch teleports to F15, and blasts Stalt and Keelie! Keelie is dazed (save ends).  pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Miren 23 G12 53/61 21 21 22 20 Palivir 22 F12 52/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 21 N16 50/50 24 18 22 17 Kaiser M16 01/01 24 18 22 17 Dryad Witch 20 F15 54/84 22 18 20 22 24 Stalt 18 H15 19/53 25 20 18 19 Dryad Hunter 18 D10 48/82 21 20 20 18 20 Giant Eagle 17 H13 84/144 22 20 18 16 21 Keelie 16 I15 71/71 23 21 19 21 Conditions: Miren: +2 defenses against Eagle, Eagle's Prey Dryad Hunter: Immobilized (Save ends), dazed UEONT. Eagle; Can't stand up (save ends), prone, cursed, marked by Keelie. Stalt: Bloodied, prone. Keelie: Grabbed by Eagle, dazed (save ends) Stalt is up! Trees block line of sight and provide cover. Bushes are difficult terrain and provide concealment.
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Mar 30, 2014 20:39
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The witch furiously tries to slash at the little halfling, but worked up as he is he's too quick for her. Palivir seizes the opportunity to launch his dagger at the dryad. This action calls a snarl from behind him, as the second dryad suddenly appears next to him. The dragonborn is quick on the draw, however, and disappears in a puff of smoke, leaving the swipe of the frustrated angry fey to hit Miren instead. Meanwhile, the giant eagle moves away from the crowd around him - taking a quick hit from Stalt's rapier in the process - and snaps at the sluggish Keelie, but even drowsy as she is, the curse of the spirits upon him is too much, and his beak bounces harmlessly off her armor. - the Witch attacks Stalt, but misses both times! Palivir retaliates twice, but only hits once for 16 damage. - the Hunter teleports to F13! Palivir drops his Smoke bomb and shifts to I10. The Hunter attacks Miren for 16 damage, and saves against her immobilize. - the Giant Eagle moves to I13, pulling Keelie to J15. Miren and Stalt attack him. Miren misses, but Stalt deals 9 damage. The Eagle attacks Keelie twice, missing twice!  pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Miren 23 G12 37/61 21 21 22 20 Palivir 22 I10 52/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 21 N16 50/50 24 18 22 17 Kaiser M16 01/01 24 18 22 17 Dryad Witch 20 F15 24/84 22 18 20 22 24 Stalt 18 G14 37/53 25 20 18 19 Dryad Hunter 18 F13 48/82 21 20 20 18 20 Giant Eagle 17 I13 75/144 22 20 18 16 21 Keelie 16 J15 71/71 23 21 19 21 Conditions: Miren: +2 defenses against Eagle Dryad Witch: Bloodied. Eagle; Can't stand up (save ends), prone, cursed, marked by Keelie. Keelie: Grabbed by Eagle, dazed (save ends), Eagle's Prey Keelie, Miren, Palivir and Oliver are up! Trees block line of sight and provide cover. Bushes are difficult terrain and provide concealment.
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Apr 1, 2014 18:54
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As the dryads both collapse, the eagle gives off a pitiful cry, mourning the defeat of its master. But it stops struggling, laying its head down meekly. Miren, following one of the spirits' suggestions (and unconcerned, it seems, with the dryad's fate), tears her sacrificial knife into the centipede's plates and finds - after the appropriate offerings to the spirits - that they fit her hands almost perfectly, like some kind of primitive gauntlets. The spirits have infused them with some of their own power, making her magic that much more dangerous, going forward. Now with a bound eagle and two unconscious dryads at your feet, what do you do? Miren finds Gauntlets of Eldritch Admixture (lv 8). Take a short rest.
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Apr 4, 2014 17:29
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Make a Nature check to figure out how long it'll take the dryads to recover, or a Heal check (DC 20) to get them up and running asap.
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Apr 5, 2014 16:31
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Groggily, the dryads regain their consciousness, and it seems the battle has knocked some sense into them. They're not immediately attacking you, at any rate. The slender one still scowls furiously in your general direction, but the one who was crying earlier sits upright and speaks calmly. "Thank you, Keelie," she says, sighing heavily, "for sparing us. Perhaps you are not too far gone still. I see no corruption in you, despite the Chaosmark, but..." The wood of her face ripples in a vague imitation of a frown. "It's only recent. Maybe it hasn't had time to change you yet. Maybe it won't, at all." The dryad shakes her head. "Only time will tell. I pray that the fates will be kind on this land, but..." She quiets down again, staring off into the distance. Her sister still refuses to speak.
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Apr 5, 2014 20:11
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She shakes her head, smiling faintly. "It won't hurt anybody. Except you five, maybe. It's what the name implies, a mark, a brand. Nothing overt, or easily visible, but a signal attuned to the right magics, drawing forth those creatures from the Chaos like a bleeding deer draws forth the wolves." "Far out west, farther than any of your settlers have gone, or the old peoples before them, the Chaos has already belched forth, in its most primal form, founts of pure elemental matter that consume and destroy all. Every day, its agents spread the mark further, paving the road for the Chaos to reclaim what, as your wizard said, was built with its elements. Sometimes they are stopped. Other times...not." The dryad looks up solemnly at Keelie. "That the mark is on you, in these lands, means that there is an agent of the Chaos here preparing the way for its masters. How they got so far, I do not know. The Chaos is not known for its subtlety, which makes its presence here all the more worrying." Oliver - though he can't find anything in particular by the name of Chaosmark in his books - does, after some cursory magical inspection, find a tiny sliver of magical energy, like a little string tightly bound to the life force of each of his companions. It's so small and intricate that undoing it would require intense study; a luxury you can't afford, if you want to stick to your original mission. Yet pushing his energies against one of the marks makes it rebound and reverberate, its own magic pushing out into the air above before dissipating, like a bell struck with a hammer.
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Apr 7, 2014 10:45
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The slender dryad scowls at Stalt's flippant remark, but holds back from snapping at him again. The two of them promise to keep the peace, for now, and thank Keelie again when she unties them. Although her sister disappears into the wood of the tree next to them as quick as anything, the witch stays behind. "He scarred my heartwood, Keelie," she says, with a grim expression, "he cut a branch from my tree like it was nothing and vanished, the callous bastard. If you find him, make him pay. Please." She gives you a description of an Eladrin - though it doesn't sound like anybody you know from town - and then disappears, as well. Now left to your own devices, you make your way back to the road, where things are more or less as you left them. That's a benefit of living so isolated, at least - there's very few highwaymen and bandits nearby. After Stalt struggles to get his llama under control again, you set out along the path.
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Apr 8, 2014 11:33
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Nobody really comes up with anything. Ezra's often seen about town, and the town's small enough that nobody can really get away with anything secret or suspicious. If she is a secret agent of the Elements, she's a very good one. But the orcs are still the more pressing matter, so you all gather around the cart again and start moving. Khan can walk the path easily enough that Oliver doesn't need to mind the reins too much, especially not with Keelie walking next to the horse to guide it as well. So the wizard is free to poke and prod at the little magical mark, which takes most of his attention. It takes him a while, but he finally manages to get adept enough at manipulating it to start sending out rudimentary messages. The question is if anybody in the Elemental Chaos knows morse code, but wizards are unconcerned with such trifle matters. As you move down the road, though, the others can see traces of the orc warband. The occasional slashed stump or broken weapon tells you you're on the right path for now, and serve as grim reminders of the gravity of your mission. You also start seeing the traces of spiders that live around this part of the woods - webs and broken cocoons become more prevalent as you go deeper into the forest. You're not too concerned about it, though; the spiders usually only prey on creatures that are a clearly designated prey, which means smaller and weaker things - so Kaiser stays well-hidden under the supplies on the cart. Eventually you come upon a small brook, carving its way through the forest. There's a rudimentary bridge, so at least you can carry over Khan and the cart, but something else draws your attention first. "Why must you flee, Shesha? You know that I'll always find you." A slow, distorted voice drifts over to you from somewhere beyond the trees. Hearing it gives you the chills, and Miren notices the spirits flickering in states between really angry and really scared. "And now you've caught me." Another voice responds, more clear and bold, with a slightly entertained tone. "My, my, whatever am I going to do? If only there were travellers going down the road right now, capable travellers with strong arms and magics to save a helpless damsel like myself! If only..." The distorted voice hisses something in a language none of you can understand, but then resumes speaking in accented common. "I grow tired of your ramblings, Shesha. I will have your blood and mind before the sun sets."
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Apr 10, 2014 15:17
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Palivir pads over through the underbrush, quiet as anything. The terrain goes a little uphill, to a small cliff right next to the creek. Up there there are three creatures gathered. The first is as if a ghost, pale and translucent, its form shifting constantly under the bright halo above its head, though with clear - if disturbing - humanoid features.  It's facing a woman, who looks young and innocent, though her hair is a pale silver color, and she wears a dress that's fashionable only by old continent standards from at least a hundred years ago. "Honestly, you're such a sore loser. Are you still upset that I eluded you in Red River by leading you into the wizard's tower just as he was performing a banishment spell? You can hardly blame me for your own inattention." This must be Sesha, then, going from her voice. She's restrained in what looks like thick, sticky webbing, though you don't really see any spiders nearby. "Silence!" cries the pale vision, shrieking in its distorted voice. One of its arms grows more solid for a brief moment, and it gestures to its companion - a tiefling, solid and burly looking, who has his back turned to the couple and is overlooking the direction you came from. "Get to it! Bleed the snake dry!" As Miren approaches, the spirits become increasingly agitated. They just about scream in her ears, and so she doesn't notice when the tiefling stops mid-turn and stares straight at her. The transparent creature snarls in frustration when its apparent lackey doesn't obey, but then pauses, and shifts. "Who's there?" it whispers, not necessarily hostile, but certainly malicious, "stay out of business that isn't yours, mortals. I have no need for an audience."
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Apr 10, 2014 16:52
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The ghostly creature lets out a burbling, hissing noise, and it takes a moment for you to realize that its laughing. "A spirit-touched! Oh, you poor mortal girl. Your head must be killing you right now..." It raises a ghostly hand, and right in front of Keelie, another dark spirit whispers into existence. "Not to worry. The pain is only a prelude compared to the agony I'll be visiting upon you when I take your soul." Seemingly ignoring its captive, the manifestation turns fully towards you now and lets out a shrieking cry. From all around you, spiders emerge from the woods! One moves from across the river to Miren in a mighty leap, and closes its jaws around her wrist - though her new gauntlets provide adequate cover. Two others leap to Oliver and Stalt and do manage to find their flesh, while the wraith attacks Keelie with a spectral imitation of a sword, slicing right through her body! - Leaping Spider 1 jumps across the river to J16 and attacks Miren, but misses! - Leaping Spider 2 moves to P14 and attacks Oliver with a CRIT! It deals 10 damage and gets +5 to all defenses UEONT. - Leaping Spider 3 moves to P19 and attacks Stalt. It hits for 3 damage and gets +5 to all defenses UEONT. - Summoned Wraith attacks Keelie with a CRIT! Stoneroot Endurance rolls a 4, making it still a crit. It deals 18 damage and marks her. Keelie also grants CA and takes ongoing 5 necrotic damage. Finally, all creatures except the wraith are invisible to her!  pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Leaping Spider 1 28 J16 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 2 P14 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 3 P19 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 Summoned Wraith 27 L14 89/89 24 20 22 21 16 Keelie 23 M13 53/71 23 21 19 21 Tiefling 22 I22 100/100 23 21 24 18 16 Stalking Spider 22 J4 80/80 21 20 20 18 20 Manifestation 22 H20 80/80 21 19 19 21 16 Palivir 21 L20 53/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 18 O15 40/50 24 18 22 17 Stalt 14 P18 50/53 25 20 18 19 Giant Spider 10 B17 82/82 21 20 19 19 21 Miren 6 K17 61/61 21 21 22 20 Sesha 0 F20 ??/?? Conditions: Leaping Spider 2: +5 to all defenses UEONT Leaping Spider 3: +5 to all defenses UEONT Keelie: Grants CA, ongoing 5 necro (save ends both); Can't see any enemy except the Wraith (save ends); Marked. Palivir: Hidden Keelie is up! Leafy textures are difficult terrain and provide concealment Rocks are difficult terrain, but can be negated with a DC 20 Athletics jump, or climb speed. Water is difficult terrain and if you end your turn in it, you provide CA until the start of your next turn. Cart provides partial cover to enemies on the other end. Wahad fucked around with this message at 20:27 on Apr 14, 2014 |
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Apr 10, 2014 19:01
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With a gesture of the pale vision, the tiefling brandishes his wicked blade and moves down the small hill to slash Miren across the face. Another spider jumps over the river and makes a passing bite at Keelie, but misses. Chittering in frustration, it moves away to disappear into the underbrush. "Move, you dim brute! Waste no time on this mongrel." The manifestation hisses angrily at the tiefling, causing him to move as his blade erupts into fire. With his weapon thus enchanted, he leaves a burning wound in Keelie's newly grown canopy. - The Tiefling moves to J17 and attacks Miren for 11 damage. Miren grants CA UEONT. - The Stalking Spider jumps to N11! It then moves to O12, attacks Keelie (but misses), and moves on to the underbrush, disappearing! - The Manifestation slides the Tiefling to M14. The Tiefling attacks Keelie for 25 damage, and Keelie grants CA UEONT!  pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Leaping Spider 1 28 J16 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 2 P14 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 3 P19 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 Summoned Wraith 27 L14 89/89 24 20 22 21 16 Keelie 23 N14 23/71 23 21 19 21 Tiefling 22 I22 100/100 23 21 24 18 16 Stalking Spider 22 ??? 80/80 21 20 20 18 20 Manifestation 22 H20 80/80 21 19 19 21 16 Palivir 21 L20 53/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 18 O15 40/50 24 18 22 17 Stalt 14 P18 50/53 25 20 18 19 Giant Spider 10 B17 82/82 21 20 19 19 21 Miren 6 K17 50/61 21 21 22 20 Sesha 0 F20 ??/?? Conditions: Leaping Spider 2: +5 to all defenses UEONT Leaping Spider 3: +5 to all defenses UEONT Summoned Wraith: Marked by Keelie. Keelie: Grants CA, Marked by Wraith. Bloodied. +2 to Fort. No forced movement. Stalking Spider: Hidden Palivir: Hidden Miren: Grants CA Palivir, Oliver and Stalt are up! Leafy textures are difficult terrain and provide concealment Rocks are difficult terrain, but can be negated with a DC 20 Athletics jump, or climb speed. Water is difficult terrain and if you end your turn in it, you provide CA until the start of your next turn. Cart provides partial cover to enemies on the other end. Wahad fucked around with this message at 21:54 on Apr 14, 2014 |
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Apr 14, 2014 21:49
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- The Spider tries to bite Oliver, but misses! - The Tiefling, provoked by the charm, swings at the Wraith, but misses as well! Knowledge: The Manifestation is a proxy appearance of a powerful devil, an astral projection because the entity behind it has no need to travel to the mortal plane. Its very purpose is to corrupt and tempt the denizens of the mortal plane - not even for a goal or for amusement, but just because it was born that way. The Wraith is a corrupted soul, bound by the devil's magic and at its complete command. Killing it would be a mercy to whomever it may have been in the past, twisted as it is through who knows how many ages of pain and torture. The spiders, this area's natural inhabitants, are being driven into a rage by the devil's presence, just like the spirits Miren talks to. Unlike the spirits, however, they might not be so easily kept at bay... pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Leaping Spider 1 28 J16 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 2 P14 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 3 P19 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 Summoned Wraith 27 L14 89/89 24 20 22 21 16 Keelie 23 N14 23/71 23 21 19 21 Tiefling 22 I22 100/100 23 21 24 18 16 Stalking Spider 22 ??? 80/80 21 20 20 18 20 Manifestation 22 H20 80/80 21 19 19 21 16 Palivir 21 L20 53/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 18 O15 40/50 24 18 22 17 Kaiser 18 N16 01/01 24 18 22 17 Fire Warrior 18 I19 25/25 27 21 23 18 Stalt 14 P18 50/53 25 20 18 19 Giant Spider 10 B17 82/82 21 20 19 19 21 Miren 6 K17 50/61 21 21 22 20 Sesha 0 F20 ??/?? Conditions: Leaping Spider 2: +5 to all defenses UEONT Leaping Spider 3: +5 to all defenses UEONT Summoned Wraith: Marked by Keelie. Keelie: Grants CA, Marked by Wraith. Bloodied. +2 to Fort. No forced movement. Stalking Spider: Hidden Manifestation: Grants CA Palivir: Hidden Miren: Grants CA Resists: Summmoned Wraith; Insubstantial, Immune to Disease and Poison, resist 10 necrotic Manifestation: Resist 10 Fire Wahad fucked around with this message at 13:10 on Apr 15, 2014 |
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Apr 15, 2014 11:24
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Shesha, though still tied up in webbing, laughs in delight as Palivir comes between her and the ghostly creature. Oh, well fought, young spawn! Well fought indeed!, she says, in a language only he can understand, though others can hear her amused tone. Snarling at Stalt's taunt, the Tiefling lurches for him with his burning blade. Thanks to Keelie's interruption, however, the big lug misses the little guy, and she follows up, though this time he's more on guard, blocking her strike. The Giant spider comes into motion, spitting a giant glob of webbing at the manifestation - and covers Palivir and Oliver's summoned warrior with it, too! Fortunately, they both manage not to get too caught up in it, though they'll still have to mind their footing. - The Spider's OA against Stalt misses! - The Tiefling's provoked MBA against Stalt hits for 15 damage [Or it would, if Keelie hadn't interrupted with Form of the Willow Sentinel Attack for 5 miss damage and -2 on the respective attack.] Keelie gets to follow up with an MBA, but misses! - The Giant Spider lobs a blob of web, covering the area from G19-I21 in difficult terrain (webbing), then moves to top-left E15.  pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Leaping Spider 1 28 J16 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 2 P14 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 3 P19 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 Summoned Wraith 27 L14 89/89 24 20 22 21 16 Keelie 23 N14 23/71 23 21 19 21 Tiefling 22 I22 84/100 23 21 24 18 16 Stalking Spider 22 ??? 80/80 21 20 20 18 20 Manifestation 22 H20 38/80 21 19 19 21 16 Palivir 21 G21 53/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 18 O15 40/50 24 18 22 17 Kaiser N16 01/01 24 18 22 17 Fire Warrior I19 25/25 27 21 23 18 Stalt 14 M15 50/53 25 20 18 19 Giant Spider 10 E15 82/82 21 20 19 19 21 Miren 6 K17 50/61 21 21 22 20 Sesha 0 F20 ??/?? Conditions: Leaping Spider 2: +5 to all defenses UEONT Leaping Spider 3: +5 to all defenses UEONT Summoned Wraith: Marked by Keelie. Keelie: Grants CA, Marked by Wraith. Bloodied. +2 to Fort. No forced movement. Stalking Spider: Hidden Manifestation: Grants CA, Slowed (Save ends), bloodied. Palivir: Concealment Giant Spider: Grants CA Miren: Grants CA Resists: Summmoned Wraith; Insubstantial, Immune to Disease and Poison, resist 10 necrotic Manifestation: Resist 10 Fire Miren is up! Leafy textures are difficult terrain and provide concealment Rocks are difficult terrain, but can be negated with a DC 20 Athletics jump, or climb speed. Water is difficult terrain and if you end your turn in it, you provide CA until the start of your next turn. Cart provides partial cover to enemies on the other end. White stuff is webs which are difficult terrain Wahad fucked around with this message at 22:25 on Apr 15, 2014 |
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Apr 15, 2014 22:17
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"I have seen things that would make your mind crumble into dust," the tiefling spits, retaliating with a stab of his wicked blade. "I do not fear your spirits." The spiders screech in primal rage, and tear into their prey with their poisonous fangs. Those afflicted feel their minds recoil, the venom of the spiders assaulting their brains directly. The Wraith disappears in a whirl of smoke, only to reappear behind Keelie, its shadowy features contorting into a grotesque approximation of a smile, plunging his smoky sword directly into her back - and yet again, darkness clouds her vision, and only those pale glowing eyes and grotesque smile pierce it. - The Tiefling's OA against Miren hits for 18 damage! She grants CA until the end of his next turn. - Leaping Spider 1 moves to M16 (avoiding OA), attacking Miren for 17 damage. - Leaping Spider 2 attacks Oliver for 18 damage! - Leaping Spider 3 moves to J19, attacking the Fire Warrior but missing. - The Summoned Wraith moves to O14 (eating an OA from Stalt, who misses), attacking Keelie for 12 damage and marking her! Keelie grants CA and takes ongoing 5 necro (save ends). All creatures except the Wraith are invisible to her (save ends).  pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Leaping Spider 1 28 M16 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 2 P14 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 3 J19 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 Summoned Wraith 27 O14 89/89 24 20 22 21 16 Keelie 23 M14 11/71 23 21 19 21 Tiefling 22 I22 65/100 23 21 24 18 16 Stalking Spider 22 ??? 80/80 21 20 20 18 20 Manifestation 22 H20 38/80 21 19 19 21 16 Palivir 21 G21 53/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 18 O15 22/50 24 18 22 17 Kaiser N16 01/01 24 18 22 17 Fire Warrior I19 25/25 27 21 23 18 Stalt 14 M15 50/53 25 20 18 19 Giant Spider 10 E15 82/82 21 20 19 19 21 Miren 6 N15 15/61 21 21 22 20 Sesha 0 F20 ??/?? Conditions: Leaping Spider 3: Grants CA Summoned Wraith: Marked by Keelie. Keelie: Grants CA, Marked by Wraith. Bloodied. +2 to Fort. No forced movement. Tiefling: Cursed, slowed and grants CA. Stalking Spider: Hidden Manifestation: Grants CA, Slowed (Save ends), bloodied. Palivir: Concealment Oliver: Bloodied, +2 to Will. Giant Spider: Grants CA Miren: Grants CA, Bloodied. Resists: Summmoned Wraith; Insubstantial, Immune to Disease and Poison, resist 10 necrotic Manifestation: Resist 10 Fire Keelie is up! Leafy textures are difficult terrain and provide concealment Rocks are difficult terrain, but can be negated with a DC 20 Athletics jump, or climb speed. Water is difficult terrain and if you end your turn in it, you provide CA until the start of your next turn. Cart provides partial cover to enemies on the other end. White stuff is webs which are difficult terrain Wahad fucked around with this message at 23:05 on Apr 18, 2014 |
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Apr 18, 2014 12:26
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Seeing Keelie restore herself from the brink of death, the tiefling laughs. "Wait your turn, then, girl. You'll be dead soon enough, no matter how much you struggle." As if to defy her, he lashes out at Miren, tearing a great wound across her chest! The spider that disappeared into the underbrush returns to the fray as well. Oliver tries to strike at it, but misses, and it tears the flesh from his leg, the sudden bloodloss causing him to pass out! "You see?" says the tiefling, pointing at Oliver's shuddering body, "death comes for you all. Death and agony." The pale abomination disappears from in front of Palivir. WIth a mighty shriek, it reappears behind the giant spider and forces the creature to move! It does so, lunging at the Oliver's summoned creature with its mighty jaws. - The Tiefling attacks Miren with a CRIT for 29 damage! She grants CA until the end of his next turn. Keelie retaliates with Warden's Fury for 9 damage. - The Stalking Spider moves to O16. Oliver gets an OA, but misses. The spider attacks Oliver with a CRIT for 29 damage! - The Manifestation teleports to D16. It slides the Giant Spider to top-left G18. The Giant spider attacks the Fire Warrior for 17 damage and ongoing 5 poison (save ends)!  pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Leaping Spider 1 28 M16 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 2 P14 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 3 J19 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 Summoned Wraith 27 O14 89/89 24 20 22 21 16 Keelie 23 M14 44/71 23 21 19 21 Tiefling 22 I22 56/100 23 21 24 18 16 Stalking Spider 22 O16 80/80 21 20 20 18 20 Manifestation 22 H20 38/80 21 19 19 21 16 Palivir 21 G21 53/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 18 O15 -7/50 24 18 22 17 Kaiser N16 01/01 24 18 22 17 Fire Warrior I19 08/25 27 21 23 18 Stalt 14 M15 50/53 25 20 18 19 Giant Spider 10 E15 82/82 21 20 19 19 21 Miren 6 N15 01/61 21 21 22 20 Sesha 0 F20 ??/?? Conditions: Leaping Spider 3: Grants CA Summoned Wraith: Marked by Keelie. Keelie: Grants CA, Marked by Wraith. +2 to Fort. No forced movement. Tiefling: Cursed, slowed and grants CA, marked by Keelie. Manifestation: Grants CA, bloodied. Palivir: Concealment Oliver: Dying, prone, +2 to Will. Fire Warrior; Ongoing 5 poison. Giant Spider: Grants CA Miren: Grants CA, Bloodied. Resists: Summmoned Wraith; Insubstantial, Immune to Disease and Poison, resist 10 necrotic Manifestation: Resist 10 Fire Palivir, Oliver and Stalt are up! Leafy textures are difficult terrain and provide concealment Rocks are difficult terrain, but can be negated with a DC 20 Athletics jump, or climb speed. Water is difficult terrain and if you end your turn in it, you provide CA until the start of your next turn. Cart provides partial cover to enemies on the other end. White stuff is webs which are difficult terrain Wahad fucked around with this message at 12:50 on Apr 21, 2014 |
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Apr 21, 2014 12:35
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The moment Stalt strikes the tiefling, his eyes light up with rage - quite literally. Fire erupts from them, and he snarls: "Yes! Feed my pain, halfling. You will see what true ago -- aghpfhk!" His taunt is interrupted by the giant spider's web, spit to them from across the field after it pulled Palivir away from the devil's manifestation! Everybody is caught in the sticky stuff, making it impossible to move anywhere. - Stalt's Attack bloodies the Tiefling! He gains an aura 1, and any enemy that ends their turn in his aura take 5 fire damage. The provoked attack misses! - The Giant Spider pulls Palivir to G20. Fire Warrior gets an OA, and hits for 15 damage. The spider shifts to top-left H17, then fires a webblob at the cart-crowd. Everybody is restrained (save ends)  pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Leaping Spider 1 28 M16 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 2 P14 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 3 J19 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 Summoned Wraith 27 O14 89/89 24 20 22 21 16 Keelie 23 N14 44/71 23 21 19 21 Tiefling 22 M14 46/100 23 21 24 18 16 Stalking Spider 22 O16 80/80 21 20 20 18 20 Manifestation 22 H20 11/80 21 19 19 21 16 Palivir 21 G20 53/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 18 O15 15/50 24 18 22 17 Kaiser N16 01/01 24 18 22 17 Fire Warrior I19 08/25 27 21 23 18 Stalt 14 M15 45/53 25 20 18 19 Giant Spider 10 H17 67/82 21 20 19 19 21 Miren 6 N15 31/61 21 21 22 20 Sesha 0 F20 ??/?? Conditions: Leaping Spider 1: Restrained (Save ends) Leaping Spider 3: Grants CA Summoned Wraith: Marked by Keelie, restrained (save ends) Keelie: Grants CA, Marked by Wraith. +2 to Fort. No forced movement, restrained (save ends) Tiefling: Cursed, slowed and grants CA, marked by Keelie, bloodied, restrained (save ends) Manifestation: Grants CA, bloodied. Palivir: Concealment Oliver: Prone, +2 to Will, +2 AC/Ref, restrained (save ends) Stalt: Restrained (save ends) Fire Warrior; Ongoing 5 poison. Giant Spider: Grants CA Miren: Grants CA, +2 AC/Ref, restrained (save ends) Resists: Summmoned Wraith; Insubstantial, Immune to Disease and Poison, resist 10 necrotic Manifestation: Resist 10 Fire Miren is up! Leafy textures are difficult terrain and provide concealment Rocks are difficult terrain, but can be negated with a DC 20 Athletics jump, or climb speed. Water is difficult terrain and if you end your turn in it, you provide CA until the start of your next turn. Cart provides partial cover to enemies on the other end. White stuff is webs which are difficult terrain
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Apr 24, 2014 10:33
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The spiders cry out in unison, and lash out at their preys. The Wraith, seeing Oliver on the brink of death, drives its sword into the fallen wizard. Keelie tries to save him, but while her blow hits, she can't stop the creature's attack. - Leaping Spider 1 tries to eat Kaiser, but misses. It fails to save against the restrain. - Leaping Spider 2 nabs at Oliver for 4 damage, and gains +5 to all defenses UEONT. - Leaping Spider 3 shifts to J20 and attacks the Fire Warrior, but misses. - The Wraith lashes out at Oliver for 14 damage. Oliver grants CA and takes ongoing 5 necrotic. Keelie attacks with Warden's Fury for 10 damage! It saves against restrained.  pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Leaping Spider 1 28 M16 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 2 P14 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 3 J20 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 Summoned Wraith 27 O14 89/89 24 20 22 21 16 Keelie 23 N14 44/71 23 21 19 21 Tiefling 22 M14 46/100 23 21 24 18 16 Stalking Spider 22 O16 80/80 21 20 20 18 20 Manifestation 22 H20 11/80 21 19 19 21 16 Palivir 21 G20 53/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 18 O15 -3/50 24 18 22 17 Kaiser N16 01/01 24 18 22 17 Fire Warrior I19 03/25 27 21 23 18 Stalt 14 M15 45/53 25 20 18 19 Giant Spider 10 H17 67/82 21 20 19 19 21 Miren 6 ??? 46/61 21 21 22 20 Sesha 0 F20 ??/?? Conditions: Leaping Spider 1: Restrained (Save ends) Leaping Spider 2; +5 to all defenses Leaping Spider 3: Grants CA Summoned Wraith: Marked by Keelie, grants CA Keelie: +2 to Fort. No forced movement, restrained (save ends) Tiefling: Cursed, marked by Keelie, bloodied, restrained (save ends), burning aura. Stalking Spider: Cursed, Restrained (save ends) Manifestation: Grants CA, bloodied. Palivir: Concealment Oliver: Dying, Prone, +2 to Will, +2 AC/Ref, restrained (save ends), grants CA and ongoing 5 necro (save ends), marked by Wraith Stalt: Restrained (save ends) Giant Spider: Grants CA Miren: [Removed from play] Resists: Summmoned Wraith; Insubstantial, Immune to Disease and Poison, resist 10 necrotic Manifestation: Resist 10 Fire Keelie is up! Leafy textures are difficult terrain and provide concealment Rocks are difficult terrain, but can be negated with a DC 20 Athletics jump, or climb speed. Water is difficult terrain and if you end your turn in it, you provide CA until the start of your next turn. Cart provides partial cover to enemies on the other end. White stuff is webs which are difficult terrain. Wahad fucked around with this message at 13:17 on Apr 24, 2014 |
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Apr 24, 2014 12:46
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The tiefling tears at the webbing in frustration, cursing in an odd language that soon crescendoes into a mighty roar of frustration, and a wave of fire washes over all those gathered around him. "Yes!" cries the pale devil, moving closer to the fray. "Yes, my minion. Kill them all!" It lobs a bolt of arcane energy at Oliver's summoned warrior, but doesn't even bother aiming. The spider lances Keelie with a leg, right over oliver's dying, convulsing body. - The tiefling takes 5 ongoing damage, and explodes! Keelie, Stalt, and Kaiser are hit for 22 damage! Oliver is missed. The spiders and wraith are hit too! The tiefling saves against restrained, but not against the ongoing. - The stalking spider takes 5 ongoing, and attacks Keelie for 15 damage! It doesn't save against either condition. - The manifestation moves to G14, and attacks the Fire Warrior, but misses.  pre:Name Init Pos HP AC Fort Ref Will Pass.Perc. Leaping Spider 1 28 M16 25/58 20 17 19 17 21 2 P14 53/58 20 17 19 17 21 3 J20 58/58 20 17 19 17 21 Summoned Wraith 27 O14 73/89 24 20 22 21 16 Keelie 23 N14 02/71 23 21 19 21 Tiefling 22 M14 29/100 23 21 24 18 16 Stalking Spider 22 O16 53/80 21 20 20 18 20 Manifestation 22 G14 11/80 21 19 19 21 16 Palivir 21 G20 53/53 21 14 20 18 Oliver 18 O15 -3/50 24 18 22 17 Fire Warrior I19 03/25 27 21 23 18 Stalt 14 M15 23/53 25 20 18 19 Giant Spider 10 H17 67/82 21 20 19 19 21 Miren 6 ??? 46/61 21 21 22 20 Sesha 0 F20 ??/?? Conditions: Leaping Spider 1: Restrained (Save ends), ongoing 5 (save ends) Leaping Spider 2; +5 to all defenses Leaping Spider 3: Grants CA Summoned Wraith: Marked by Keelie, grants CA, ongoing 5 (save ends) Keelie: +2 to Fort. No forced movement, bloodied, Regen 5. Tiefling: Cursed, marked by Keelie, bloodied, ongoing 5 (save ends), burning aura. Stalking Spider: Cursed, Restrained (save ends) ongoing 5 (save ends) Manifestation: Grants CA, bloodied. Palivir: Concealment Oliver: Dying, Prone, +2 to Will, +2 AC/Ref, restrained (save ends), grants CA and ongoing 5 necro (save ends), marked by Wraith Stalt: Restrained (save ends) Giant Spider: Grants CA Miren: [Removed from play] Resists: Summmoned Wraith; Insubstantial, Immune to Disease and Poison, resist 10 necrotic Manifestation: Resist 10 Fire Palivir, Oliver, Stalt are up! Leafy textures are difficult terrain and provide concealment Rocks are difficult terrain, but can be negated with a DC 20 Athletics jump, or climb speed. Water is difficult terrain and if you end your turn in it, you provide CA until the start of your next turn. Cart provides partial cover to enemies on the other end. White stuff is webs which are difficult terrain.
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Apr 24, 2014 14:05
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"No!" The pale form blurs and distorts. "No! Not again!" Behind Palivir, Sesha lets out a mocking laugh. "Better luck next time! Au revoir, mon cher!" "This isn't the end, Sesha. I will have your blood, even if it takes me an age!" With a final, blood-curdling shriek, the manifestation of the devil disappears into a fading whisper of smoke. Within the cluster of webbing, the Wraith lets out a mournful cry and disappears, too, freed suddenly from the agonizing grip of its former master. The spiders stop their angry chittering, and one by one vanish in the woods - leaving the tiefling all alone. "As for you..." The tangled-up woman turns her head and glares at the tiefling. "You should really have considered a different career." Her eyes light up with a pale green glow, and for a moment, nothing happens. Then, with a cry of pain, the tiefling falls to his knees, clutching his head - but only for a moment, as he falls over quite dead soon after with a gurgle. "Well! That's that, then. Thank you for your assitance, brave heroes." Smiling broadly, she faces Palivir. "Could you cut me loose, please? This darned web is quite a hinder." Palivir turns around to face her, but something catches his eye. There in the stream, something shines bright. Picking it up, it seems like a gem, cloudy white, and he can feel the magic within him almost immediately making him more aggressive. Palivir gets a Rain of Hammers Ki Focus! Oliver, once he gets up, gets a Belt of Vim. Short rest for now, but you can take an extended rest if everybody agrees.
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Apr 24, 2014 15:18
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She regards Palivir curiously, tilting her head a little. "I haven't seen your spawn. My apologies." Shaking the last strands of web off of her, she steps out of the pile. "But the orcs I have seen, yes. I could not pursue them, as I was avoiding my pursuer - thank you kindly once again for dispatching of him, by the way - but they were headed to their city in the mountains," she says, speaking in accented Common once again. "Did they come for your home? Curious."
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Apr 24, 2014 16:03
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"Why does a devil want anything?" Sesha replies, quite calmly. "Think, spirit-touched. Things are quite apparent if you look at them properly." She smoothes out some wrinkles in her black dress, observing the lot of you with a pensive hum. "What I'd like to know is what you five are planning. You seem a little under-prepared for taking on an orc city in retribution. Have you a plan?"
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Apr 24, 2014 21:21
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"Ahhh, the wizard sees it clearly!" Sesha looks delighted. "Very well, then, I'll answer you clearly; or as clearly as I can. I am Sesha, and Sesha is me; it is not my true name, but it serves, and so you may call me by it. As for what power I hold, well; power greater than all five of you combined, and power greater still than the orc warband that raided your town." With that, she stretches out, and her hair seemingly comes to life. It lengthens, twists, and turns, and for a moment, it seems as if you're staring at a whole new creature, hidden in the strands of her hair. Then all is normal again, and with a broad smile and conspiratorial wink, Sesha walks past the lot of you towards the cart. "May I ride with you for a while? I could use the rest, and you can tell me what you plan to achieve in the city of orcs. Perhaps we could aid one another, mm?" Knowledge; Oliver knows that some older, more powerful dragons will sometimes take human shape and walk among them. Most dragons consider themselves above this, but not the rarer and more cunning Mercury or Steel dragons. Given Sesha's riddles and oblique answers, she's probably a Mercury dragon. Wahad fucked around with this message at 16:33 on Apr 27, 2014 |
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Apr 27, 2014 16:29
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Sesha waves dismissively as she nimbly hops onto the cart, casting some errant strands of spidersilk aside. "Oh, I don't think so. He's a persistent scoundrel, I'll grant you, but cross-plane manifestation is hardly an effortless feat." She smiles. "Though you have raised his ire, so I suppose if he has nothing better to do, he might look for you in a few years or so again to exact horrible vengeance. You know how devils do." She reclines amidst Oliver's possession. "Well then, shall we be onwards? I believe we have much to learn from one another."
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Apr 29, 2014 15:46
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The woman laughs for a long, long while. "Oh, I do so enjoy a mortal wizard..." she says, after finally composing herself with a last chuckle, "the answer, of course, is another question. Whyever would such a mighty dragon dispose of such trifles with a dazzling display of phenomenal power when there are other, more humiliating ways of doing the same?" More laughter, then, joyful and just the slightest bit vindictive. "Poor Valac. If he wasn't a devil, I'd pity him for having such grand dreams unfulfilled every time he manages to manifest." She turns on the cart to face Palivir. "But la, let us not speak of those unpleasantries, and rather your own. Tell me of this daughter of yours, young spawn. Perhaps I might give you insight into the riddle of her disappearance." Extended rest is happening as you travel; next encounter will have all your dailies etc. recharged. For now, feel free to talk with Sesha, amongst yourselves, or if nobody's interested I'll skip ahead after a while.
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Apr 30, 2014 14:31
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The woman remains quiet for a while Oliver lays out his plan, observing each of you with a glitter in her eyes. "Hmmm..." Then, she shrugs lightly with a smile. "Slaughtering the orcs seems a little bloodthirsty. But la, you do as you must. I know well the motivational power of vengeance." Gesturing to Palivir, she continues: "But if they have taken the young one, it might be wise to retrieve her before you spring your ambush, no? Far be it from me to lecture you, of course, but...well." You pass the time on the road without disturbance. Now that the adrenaline of the fight has worn off, a grim silence hangs among you, as you can't help but think of the task ahead. Sesha is content to remain quiet, sometimes watching you, sometimes reading one of Oliver's books. Kaiser eventually comes out as well, which delights her, and she spends a while conversing with him. The sun is creeping down towards the horizon, throwing dark shadows around the forest, when you come upon a steep hill, at the outliers of the mountain range where the orcs make their home. Into the hill is carved an old, grand statue of sorts, on top of a wall. It depicts a heavy-set face. But the years have taken its toll on it, and all sorts of foliage cover the surrounding area.  A small distance away from the face, water trickles down from out the hill, collecting in a few stagnant pools. Observing the wall closer, it has some faded Orcish writing carved into it, though none of you can read it. The road ends here; Keelie knows that you could make it to the mountains by going around, but the terrain is difficult and overgrown, so you'd be forced to go on foot. Sesha, meanwhile, has hopped off the cart and approached the statue and wall, humming pensively as she inspects it. Consider the Extended Rest complete for now.
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May 4, 2014 11:23
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She sniffs disdainfully. "There's old magics on this place. Orcish, probably. It stinks." Shivering a little, Sesha waves a hand dismissively. "It might be a passage of some sort, but I have no interest in going below the earth."
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May 4, 2014 12:29
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Between Palivir and Keelie, you find some things quickly enough. The dragonborn, tearing some of the overgrowth out of the way, reveals more carved Orcish script, and a few slots that seem like they could hold keys or the like. Finding out how to open it will require some more studying. Keelie, however, sees that there is not just a mechanical lock. Placing her hand on the stone face, she feels a warmth coursing through the stone, indicating the presence of primal magic. You'll have to work together to open this; and without anybody to read the Orcish, you'll have to study the locks themselves. Skill Challenge - Opening the Orcish Passage! To open the passage, everybody make a skill check at DC 20! I'm not making this quite a standard skill challenge, but I do want y'all to work together, so feel free to use whatever skill you think applies best. Anybody who rolls a natural twenty automatically opens the passage; a natural 1 will require at least three successes to offset it, or the passage locks down. If you all roll failures, the passage doesn't open, but two or more successes will open the passage without the presence of a 20 or 1.
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May 6, 2014 15:22
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Through your combined efforts, the passage starts to grind open with a horrible noise of stone on stone. The wall falls away into the ground, revealing a large, wide passage into darkness. There's no torches inside, but from your own lights, you can see that on either side, there's small canals, and on the ceiling you can see a bull's head with twisting, curving horns. "Well, if you insist..." Sesha sighs dramatically. "I suppose this is where we part ways. Good luck with your orcs! And...perhaps we'll meet again, mm?" With a curtsey and a knowing smile, she turns around and walks away into the underbrush. A few moments later, you hear the beating of powerful wings - and then nothing. There's only a few moments of daylight left, now; and with no other options, you head into the passage below. It takes some work to get in there, clearing away some of the other undergrowth so that Khan and the cart can come in without problems, but you manage well enough. The passage stretches on without light on the end, but if it carries you far enough, you know from the lay of the land that it should carry you well into the mountains. Just as you're about to set off you hear the beating of hooves, and somebody calling out.
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May 9, 2014 08:23
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"Indeed, it's excellent news! One less thing to worry about," Stalt agrees, prodding his llama with his heels to make it move forward, "although it is awful dark in here. I wonder how the orcs make it through without torches?" Even those of you who are accustomed to seeing things in the long shadows of dawn and dusk have trouble seeing far ahead; and as the passage closes with that same horrible grinding noise, you're all left in absolute darkness - and absolute silence.
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May 11, 2014 18:45
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"Ahhh, thank you, Oliver. This'll do nicely!" Stalt says brightly, taking the lead. He moves onward on his llama, cautious but nonetheless relieved to have found the passage. As the lot of you proceed, the passage remains more of the same; polished stone floor, arcs to support the ceilings, and the canals on the side, with no light anywhere but the kind spread by the floating lantern. As you walk on, Palivir and Keelie notice that the bull's head carvings on each arc have their horns twist in increasingly convoluted ways; and after you pass the eighth of those arcs, you suddenly hear a heavy hum that seems to come from all sides. It presses on your ears and chest, heavy and uncomfortable, but seemingly harmless. Then, after a few moments, a thunderous voice booms through the passage. Rhonwen; The voice is in Orcish, and although it takes you a moment to adjust to the volume and dialect, you can more or less make out what it says. <"Apu Sacha sees your souls and knows you do not belong. Turn back or be guided to his realm, trespassers."> Miren; When the voice comes on, you suddenly lose all contact with the spirits for a moment; no voices, no movements, nothing.
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May 12, 2014 16:42
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The voice does not respond to Rhonwen, and her words are but met with that same heavy hum for a few more moments, before you are left in silence again. Miren finds the spirits returning to her once more when the moment has passed; it seems that it was but a temporary warding. Though after it has passed, she notices the spirits are...lethargic, dulled, like something is keeping them from unleashing their true potential. Oliver knows well enough that orcs invoke gods for almost every significant location or performed action. So too does it make sense that they would invoke the god of the underworld, or literally "the place under mountains", in an underground passage. Apu Sacha is a god of order and protection, his warding extends to both the honored dead and those who live, so that the latter may join the former when their time is done. Places that invoke the Lord of Mountains are usually hidden, and well-warded with defenses so that they may stay that way. "Gee," Stalt says after a while, "d'you think they'd keep the underworld so close to the surface?"
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May 12, 2014 22:14
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